noun
Uncommon
hacking
HA-kihng
Hacking (noun) means Unauthorized access to a computer system or network. Example: “The company reported a hacking attempt on its customer database.”
noun
1
Unauthorized access to a computer system or network.
"The company reported a hacking attempt on its customer database."
"Police are investigating the hacking of several email accounts at the school."
"Strong passwords can help protect you against hacking."
adjective
1
Describing a cough that comes in short, dry, repeated bursts.
"He couldn't stop his hacking cough all through the meeting."
"A hacking cough kept me awake for most of the night."
"The child had a dry, hacking cough, so his mother kept him home."
How to use hacking
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBreaking into computer systems, or (as an adjective) a rough, repeated dry cough.
Common pairings
hacking cough
computer hacking
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Word forms
- Plural
- hackings
- Comparative
- more hacking
- Superlative
- most hacking
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The company reported a _____ attempt on its customer database.
Etymology
From hack plus the suffix -ing.
Related words
Rhymes for hacking
backing
lacking
jacking
sacking
racking
cracking
blacking
clacking
tracking
quacking
smacking
whacking
See all rhymes for hacking →
Frequently asked questions
What does “hacking” mean?
The word “hacking” means unauthorized access to a computer system or network. In plain terms, breaking into computer systems, or (as an adjective) a rough, repeated dry cough.
How do you pronounce “hacking”?
“Hacking” is pronounced HA-kihng (/ˈhækɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “hacking” in a sentence?
Here is “hacking” used in a sentence: “The company reported a hacking attempt on its customer database.”
What part of speech is “hacking”?
Depending on how it is used, “hacking” can be a noun and an adjective.
Is “hacking” a common word?
“Hacking” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “hacking” have?
“Hacking” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: unauthorized access to a computer system or network.
What is the difference between "hacking" and "cracking"?
Hacking broadly means gaining unauthorized access to a computer system or network. "Cracking" is often used more narrowly for hacking carried out with clearly malicious or criminal intent, such as breaking security to steal or damage data.
What is "ethical hacking"?
Ethical hacking refers to authorised testing in which someone deliberately probes a computer system for weaknesses so they can be fixed rather than exploited. Because it is done with permission, it is a legal, security-focused use of the same skills involved in hacking.
Is "hacking" always related to computers?
No. While hacking most often means unauthorized access to a computer system, the same word also works as an adjective describing a dry, repeated cough. Its meaning therefore depends heavily on context.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include hacking:
Further Reading
Hacker Typer →
A prank tool that fills your screen with fast-scrolling code to make it look like you're hacking — for laughs, not actual hacking.
